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Computational Mechanics

Titles appearing in Art Book News Annual — January 2007
Arrangement is by title.

Computational mechanics for heritage structures. (CD-ROM included)

Leftheris, B.P. et al. (High performance structures and materials; v.9)
WIT Press, ©2006    262 p.    $234.00    NA4130
1-84564-034-9

Leftheris and three other Greek scholars have worked together for over a decade on complicated structural analysis problems in civil and mechanical engineering in Europe and North America. Here they explain how to use advanced techniques of computational mechanics to analyze the strength, rehabilitation, and seismic design of monuments, historical buildings, and related structures. They introduce the material gradually and systematically, without deep theoretical detail, using the software on the accompanying disk, which requires Windows. The US office of WIT Press is Computational Mechanics. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Eco-architecture; harmonisation between architecture and nature.

Ed. by G. Broadbent and C. A. Brebbia. (WIT transactions on the built environment; v.86)
WIT Press, ©2006    409 p.    $270.00    NA2543
1-84564-171-X

This book contains 40 edited papers from the June 2006 First International Conference on Harmonisation between Architecture and Nature, which focused on how to make decisions regarding locations, siting, orientation, materials, and energy use in order to minimize the impact of buildings on their immediate environs and the wider environment. The interdisciplinary papers — bringing together insights from engineers, planners, physicists, sociologists, economists, and other specialists — have been organized by editors Broadbent (U. of Portsmouth, UK) and Brebbia (Wessex Institute of Technology, UK) into sections covering ecological and cultural sensitivity, historical and philosophical aspects, design with nature, assessment and selection of materials, natural technologies, design by passive systems, building operation and maintenance, and water conservation. The papers range from general discussion of overarching issues to case studies of individual ecologically sensitive buildings. The US office of WIT Press is Computational Mechanics. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The great structures in architecture; antiquity to Baroque.

Escrig, F. (Advances in architecture; v.22)
WIT Press, ©2006    254 p.    $170.00    NA200
1-84564-039-X

Escrig (architecture, U. of Seville) provides the curious with extremely detailed and easy to reference drawings of the structures that contain exquisite space, including original drawings where extant, modern engineering renderings, and explanatory technical illustrations. With many drawn by his own able hand, Escrig explains the powerful forces lurk behind those serene marble walls, starting with the architecture of Greece and Rome and including the monumental work of Byzantium, and the heights to heaven of the Gothic, with special attention to the once-humble dome that stood on its own in a field to the glories of many a sacred and even secular installation. Escrig ranges far for his examples and includes many from Asia and the Middle East, but the primary draw for this text are the stunning structural analysis drawings of some of the most famous buildings of all time. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)